Nova Patents
US9976545B2

Air operated pump

Summary by NHIP

Pinch Valve Air Pump

The air operated pump uses a control valve to alternately supply compressed air and exhaust to a venturi and two pneumatic pinch valves. This system pressurizes and vacuums a bladder situated between the inlet and outlet pinch valves within the pump chamber.

Claim Score by NHIP

Read claim 12, the broadest

Abstract

An elongate air operated pump includes a pump chamber, a bladder inside the pump chamber, inlet and outlet valves to and from the chamber and an air control system. The air control system includes a control valve alternately communicating compressed air and exhaust to atmosphere to a venturi with a first end, a second end and a throat port. The first end of the venturi receives continuous compressed air. The second end receives the alternately communication of compressed air and exhaust to atmosphere from the control valve. The throat port of the venturi is in continuous communication with the bladder to pressurize and draw a vacuum on the bladder. The valves may be pneumatic pinch valves controlled by the control valve to cycle with the bladder or passive one-way pump valves.

US9976545B2, drawing sheet 1
Sheet 1 of 12

Term

10 yearsleft in the term

Expires 8 October 2036, including 618 days of term adjustment.

  1. Priority
  2. Filed
  3. Granted
  4. Today
  5. Expires

19 claims: 2 independent, 17 dependent

  1. 1
    An air operated pump, comprising:a source of compressed air;an exhaust to atmosphere;a first pump chamber including a first inlet and a first outlet;a first valve controlling the first inlet of the first pump chamber;a second valve displaced toward the first outlet from the first valve;a first bladder in the first pump chamber between the first valve and the second valve;a first venturi including an inlet end, an outlet end and a venturi throat port between the inlet end and the outlet end, the source of compressed air being in communication with the inlet end of the first venturi, the venturi throat port of the first venturi being in communication with the first bladder;a control valve in communication with the source of compressed air, the exhaust to atmosphere and the outlet end of the first venturi, the control valve including a first position communicating the exhaust to atmosphere with the outlet end of the first venturi and a second position communicating the source of compressed air with the outlet end of the first venturi, the first valve being a first pinch valve and the second valve being a second pinch valve, the venturi throat port of the first venturi being in communication with the first pinch valve, the control valve being in communication with the second pinch valve, the first position of the control valve further communicating the source of compressed air with the second pinch valve and the second position of the control valve further communicating the exhaust to atmosphere with the second pinch valve.
  2. 12
    Broadest claimClaim Score 41, average(NHIP)An air operated pump, comprising:a source of compressed air;an exhaust to atmosphere;a first pump chamber including a first inlet and a first outlet;a first pinch valve controlling the first inlet of the first pump chamber;a second valve displaced toward the first outlet from the first pinch valve;a first bladder in the first pump chamber between the first pinch valve and the second valve;a first venturi including an inlet end, an outlet end and a venturi throat port between the inlet end and the outlet end, the source of compressed air being in communication with the inlet end of the first venturi, the venturi throat port of the first venturi being in communication with the first bladder and with the first pinch valve;a control valve in communication with the source of compressed air, the exhaust to atmosphere and the outlet end of the first venturi, the control valve including a first position communicating the exhaust to atmosphere with the outlet end of the first venturi and a second position communicating the source of compressed air with the outlet end of the first venturi, the second valve being closed with the control valve in the first position and being open with the control valve in the second position.